Jan Hernych overpowers Daniel Brands in opener – Gerry Weber Open 2013
Czech qualifier, Jan Hernych, got the better of the local challenger, Daniel Brands, in straight sets at the Gerry Weber Open 2013 on Monday. He registered a 6-4, 6-2 victory against the German to secure a spot in the second round
at this ATP World Tour 250 series event taking place at this Wimbledon warm-up event held in Halle.
The Czech veteran showed brilliant tennis to overpower Brands in their first Tour-level meeting. However, Brands dumped the Czech in the qualifying competition at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna last year.
Both contestants made comfortable entry at the Gerry Weber Stadoin and held their respective serves with poise. However, Hernych cashed one out of two break chances in the fifth game and jumped to a 4-2 lead. He then held his remaining
serves and clinched the opener with a 6-4 score line. The Czech was never threatened by any breakpoint in the set.
Ranked 254th in the Emirates Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Hernych lifted his game in the following set. He went on a four-game killing spree before Brands could come on the score sheet. The Czech held his proceeding
serves with precise shots and sealed the set by winning six games to two. He warded off both breakpoints he came across and converted two out of six break chances to his advantage.
Next up for Hernych is the winner of the match between fifth seeded Milos Raonic and the French challenger, Gael Monfils.
The Russian contender, Mikhail Youzhny, will accompany Hernych in the round of 16. He crushed the Spanish challenger, Daniel Gimeno-Traver, with a breadstick in 48 minutes to set-up this meeting. With this victory, Youzhny improved
to a 4-0 lifetime in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series against the Spaniard.
The world number 29, Youzhny was never challenged with any breakpoint and cashed four out of six break chances to record a 6-1, 6-2 success. He manipulated a better first serve share of 70 per cent in contrast with Gimeno-Traver’s
61 per cent and tremendously availed 23 out of 28 points on it.
Up next for the Russian is the fourth seed, Kei Nishikori, who received a first round bye after being the top four players at this event.
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